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When the 49ers surreptitiously attended a workout of Peyton Manning’s, many construed it as a vote of little confidence for Alex Smith.

Then came the contentious haggling over Smith’s contract, which prompted Smith to embark on a free-agent junket to Miami.

After a re-jiggering of the terms, Smith eventually signed the three-year, $24 million deal the team offered originally, and thus another perceived blow to the 49ers’ confidence in their starter.

However, any inkling of flagging confidence was completely obliterated over draft weekend. Not only did head coach Jim Harbaugh once again reiterate that Smith was the team’s unquestioned starter, Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke surrounded Smith with foot-speed freaks in Illinois wide receiver A.J. Jenkins and Oregon running back LaMichael James.

Combine these dynamos with free agent signings Randy Moss and Mario Manningham and the message is clear – Harbaugh is breaking the offense open and he obviously believes Smith can run this new wide-open attack.

Smith excelled in last year’s slammed shut offense that relied on power runs and low-risk passes that produced Smith’s underwhelming yet impressive line of 17 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. However, with the 49ers facing top quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Matthew Stafford in 2012, the 49ers offense of last year is suddenly obsolete.

Yes, the 49ers defense is grand, but this is a passing league and offensive records are falling like autumn leaves. No defense, no matter how good, can keep up with these gilded-armed passers. So the 49ers have to respond offensively. Also, the 49ers were plus-28 in turnover ratio, and they can’t expect that to happen again. And with few exceptions, nearly all the starters stayed healthy and turned in career years. The 49ers can’t expect that to happen again either.

So the question is: With these new weapons, can Smith throw 30 touchdown passes, even if it means doubling his interceptions from last year? Is Harbaugh right in putting that kind of confidence in him?